The Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)‎: A PRISMA Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Paraclinical Characteristics

Abstract EN

An outbreak of pneumonia, caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), was identified in China in December 2019.

This virus expanded worldwide, causing global concern.

Although clinical, laboratory, and imaging features of COVID-19 are characterized in some observational studies, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the frequency of these features.

We did a systematic review and meta-analysis using three databases to identify clinical, laboratory, and computerized tomography (CT) scanning features of rRT-PCR confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Data for 3420 patients from 30 observational studies were included.

Overall, the results showed that fever (84.2%, 95% CI 82.6-85.7), cough (62%, 95% CI 60-64), and fatigue (39.4%, 95% CI 37.2-41.6%) are the most prevalent symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Increased CRP level, decreased lymphocyte count, and increased D-dimer level were the most common laboratory findings.

Among COVID-19 patients, 92% had a positive CT finding, most prevalently ground-glass opacification (GGO) (60%, 95% CI 58-62) and peripheral distribution opacification (64%, 95% CI 60-69).

These results demonstrate the clinical, paraclinical, and imaging features of COVID-19.